Tips On Finding A Therapist

Finding a therapist can be a challenging and frustrating task. It may mean driving for more time than you expected or spending hours making phone calls. The benefits far out way any inconveniences you may run into. A strong and supportive relationship with a therapist can be a Life-Line.

Here are some basic guidelines and a check list to finding the right fit for you and your family.

State and private agencies can be good resource for referrals.

If you call a therapist and they can not work with you because of scheduling , time frames, or incompatible insurance ask them who they would recommend.

The best thing to do is sit down with pencil and paper and start calling. Sometimes you will just know it is a fit when you talk to them.

Therapist Check-list (as it pertains to your child and family):
□ Have they had experience working with children with emotional
&/or behavioral struggles?
- Have they worked with children that have been in state custody?
- Do they have knowledge of international adoption issues?
- Do they have a understanding of cultural issues that would pertain
to your child or family?

□ Is their philosophy to work with the entire family or just the child?
- Parenting children who have been through trauma or who have
mental illnesses requires different skills.
- Does the therapist bring ‘Re-Parenting’ training and support
to parents and the entire family? Do not for get that your birth
children need continual help adjusting also.
- Traditional parenting skills do not work with many children who
have been through severe trauma or children with ADHD, Autism,
Fetal Alcohol Syndrom/Effects, or Reactive Attachment Disorder).

□ Do you get the feeling ‘you’ can be totally vulnerable with them?
- Raising children that have been through trauma can be extremely
frustrating and isolating. Many times friends and family do not
understanding. You will need to be working with a therapist that
you can be gut-honest with).

□ Does the therapist have a growing relationship with his or her
own significant other and/or children? You will pick up on cues over
time.
- Therapist can only take clients as far as they have been willing to
grow.

□ After you have been to see this therapist 3 or 4 times, you should
be sensing whether it is or not a good fit.

Finding the right fit for you and your family is a worth while endeavor. Though it can be intimidating it is not impossible.

Flexibility and willingness to learn something new will bring hope, joy, and even peace to you, your child, and entire family.